French author Marc Levy has unveiled his latest literary endeavor, titled *Les Évadées* (The Runaways), an ambitious two-volume saga published in two volumes on 22 September and 15 October 2026 via Robert Laffont publishers. The project marks a deeply engaged response to the contemporary geopolitical climate, focusing on themes of individual and collective resistance against oppressive forces. Levy described the work not merely as fiction, but as a testament to those who illuminate life in times when others seek to extinguish it, positioning the book as a tribute to citizens who resist fear on a personal level to forge a broader societal strength. [1]
The narrative centers on twin sisters, Olivia and Cécile, who look identical but have been raised in radically different environments and possess opposing worldviews. Olivia is a researcher at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, currently on a secondment in Boston. Her storyline reflects Levy's concerns regarding the erosion of scientific integrity under the administration of Donald Trump. The novel depicts the repeated attacks by the US government on scientific progress, a situation Levy likens to historical inquisitions where scientists were accused of witchcraft. This political hostility threatens Olivia’s mission and the advancement of knowledge, highlighting the vulnerability of expertise in a polarized democratic landscape. [1]
Cécile, her twin, serves as an agent for Interpol based in Lyon. Her arc is grounded in international law enforcement realities, specifically the fight against human trafficking and digital exploitation. She is preparing for a deployment to Southeast Asia to extract a young woman who has escaped from a 'click factory.' These facilities, often baited by fraudulent job advertisements, trap individuals from around the globe, forcing them to conduct online fraud under coercion. Levy notes that according to the United Nations, approximately 300,000 individuals from sixty-six countries are trapped in such operations, underscoring the global scale of this modern slavery. [1]
The genesis of *Les Évadées* traces back to Levy's visit to the Interpol headquarters in Lyon three years prior, during the Quais du Polar book festival. During this visit, a missing persons investigator captivated Levy with her humanity and fierce determination to find missing people. This encounter inspired the character of Cécile. Levy’s role as ambassador for the Pasteur Institute during the 2024 US elections solidified Olivia’s perspective. The convergence of these two intense professional realities—combatting institutional suppression of science and fighting transnational criminal networks—drove the creation of the dual narrative. [1]
- Categories:
- Entertainment
- Entities:
